Take action to aid Maiama, 7

Action Aid Appeal: Maiama, 7 years old, from Gambia

OLDHAM residents can put a smile on the face of a little girl more than 6,000 miles away by sponsoring a child from Gambia this Christmas.

ActionAid has launched an urgent appeal for seven-year-old Maiama to be the “child of our town” and help to provide her with a brighter future.

Gambia’s children face a difficult time with malnutrition and poverty rife and many of the population living on less than £1 per day.

Anti-poverty charity ActionAid is aiming to change this situation and, for £15 a month, sponsors can help to provide school equipment and agricultural support for Maiama and her family.

ActionAid spokeswoman Jane Mayo said: “Child sponsorship through ActionAid can help bring about real, long-term change.

“Sponsors will receive two letters a year from their child to explain how their money is helping to change their lives.

Respond

“We’re hoping this focused appeal in Oldham will help us change Maiama’s future for good.”

The first person to respond to Maiama’s appeal will become her sponsor but others keen to help vulnerable children in countries including Myanmar (formerly Burma), Afghanistan and Malawi can sponsor another child through ActionAid.

Comedian, author and ActionAid child sponsor Mark Watson said: “People often feel with charities that they’re pouring money into a far-off place without seeing any resolution to the problems.

“With ActionAid child sponsorship, people can see the relationship between the donations and the real improvements in a specific person’s life.”

For more information about sponsoring a child, visit www.actionaid.org.uk/city.